Customer Reviews

Dada

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To all Dada fans, and yet to be Dada fans, you will congratulate yourself immensely for buying this CD. It is difficult, and pointless, to classify what dada's "sound" is. Dada always finds a way to avoid being lumped in with formula bands and the newest self-titled CD is no different in that regard.

Michael Gurley and Joie Calio (co-lead singers, playing guitar and bass respectively) are an amazing songwriting duo with a treasure chest full of gems just waiting to be discovered by true music lovers. If you've heard "California Gold" and dismissed this album, you're making a huge mistake. Record companies have a history of getting the radio airplay for dada's most catchy and hook-filled tunes (as with Dizz Knee Land from their debut album - Puzzle) but it is songs such as "Playboy in Outerspace" and "Ballad of Earl Grey" that are a dada fan's delight. I have played this album for as many people as I can and every one now wants this CD.

A Dada fan is born every 22 seconds in America. They just don't know it yet. See them live, love them in your car. You'll thank yourself.

If you're still not certain, buy Puzzle - the debut CD first. You'll soon be convinced.

I fell in love with Dorina and never looked back. But, I never considered this dada CD my favorite. Not having listened to this CD for quite a while, I was randomly going through my collection and decided to give it a spin. Is it my sad mood that changed my opinion of songs that in the past I never gave much thought to? I say this because since giving this CD a recent re-listening, Where You're Going and Baby Really Loves Me now seem much more prominant. As if I'm just now truely hearing them for the first time. These two songs are precisely why I love this band. Where You're Going: simple, plaintive lyrics, along with Michaels driving/slashing guitar rhythms ( not overly distorted, just the way I like it ) and lead work, sublime harmonies. Baby Really Loves Me: great metaphoric lyrics, starts off dreamy then Joie's vocals soar and Michaels snarling guitar kick into high gear about two thirds through, then Michael finishes off the song with characteristic guitar noodling. To my ears, this is power pop at its best and where ever Michael Gurley and his guitar go, I will follow.

Album 4 is a small step down from previous efforts, but if you had never heard the earlier efforts you'd still think you'd stumbled onto something tremendous. It's perhaps a tad overproduced. My favorite tracks are "Where You're Going" and "This Thing Together". Least favorite: "California Gold".

I was not a big fan of Dada's previous album, but this one grabbed me immediately. They have moved away from the alternative rock sound and replaced it with great sounding power pop. This album has tons of great harmonies, catchy fun lyrics, beautitful guitar sound, lots of interesting production, and has both rockers and soft pop songs. There is so much variety, that I've listened to it at least a dozen times and still have not tired of it. My choice for best of the year.

Dada is truely a great band,and their newest release proves once again that they write some of the best songs around. It is a shame that the only song most people remember from the band is "Dizz Knee Land". They are so much better than that song! If you want to hear great music, buy this album today!

Dada's self-titled fourth album surely will not let down even the most hardcore dada fan.

This record may be the most beatlesque when compared to its predecessors, but it still contains the screaming guitar riffs and great song construction that dada is known for. Dada has matured since their hit "Dizz-Knee-Land", and it is unfortunate so many people fail to realize this.

I conclude this review with saying, "Buy this album! It will not let you down."

At this late date, there really is no reason to review this disc. Dada broke up, and now half the guys are Butterfly Jones(nice cd), and Joie is working on his new project Candy Apple Black. However, if you like pop and you miss out on this album you are seriously blowing it! This is as good as many Beatle cds, it is that good! Information Undertow is a tremendous pop song. Great harmonies and great song. Ditto for Where You're Going. Spinning My Wheels is also top notch with a great string section bridge. Danny Kortchmars production is perfect, and this blows most pop cds out of the water. All I can say iss that if you are a fan of the Beatles, Jellyfish, Wondermints, or Cherry Twister, this is a must own, too good to be forgotten. I keep coming back to it. As far as I am concerned, the holy trinity of pop is Dada, the Wondermints, and the Pearlfishers. They are the greatest purveyors of pop in this day and age.

I first heard Dada in the late summer of 1994, on South Street in Philly, at a cool venue whose name currently escapes me. I saw then there again in 1995 and then for a third time in Georgetown, DC, in 1996. With each performance, I liked them more and more and more. The same applies to their CDs, of which I have four (which, I think, is all they released to date). "Dada" just may be better than "Puzzle," which I thought was their previous best and would also give a 5 star rating. These guys are just astounding. Better harmonies or tighter, wiser compositions are impossible to find these days. For anyone that has never heard them live, DO IT! They are even better in person than on laser disc. As mentioned by other reviewers before me, it is a major puzzle and even greater shame that they do not receive more air-time nor have a much broader following. No other current band would deserve it more!

The greatest "unknown" band in the free world. I've seen the band live, and being a professional musician myself, I'd have to say they're incredible. With every CD they've gotten better. It's too bad MTV, VH1 and corporate radio don't know talent when they hear it. Take a chance and put something well-written and performed well on. This album is like the others in the sense that every song is distinctive. It's not the usual "every song sounds alike" thing we're getting hit over the head with in the "alternative" genre. Expand your mind and buy any or all the Dada CDs.

This is my favorite Dada album. I come back to it over and over. It covers a lot of territory musically and is just great. I hope the band can get back together and make more like this one!